Dopamine-inducing social environments are the major culprit in causing social media addiction. This phenomenon is not limited to one particular social network or platform, as other factors contribute to a person’s addiction as well. Some of these factors are genetics, psychological factors, and environment. Regardless of the causes, it’s essential to find an alternative hobby that you can enjoy at the same time. However, if you’re addicted to social media, it’s time to find another activity or hobby.

Dopamine-inducing social environments

Dopamine-inducing social environments may be the reason why people become addicted to social media. Researchers have found that people tend to talk about themselves in social media sites and these conversations activate reward centers in the brain. This activity triggers a positive response in the brain, and social media users tend to seek out attention through these platforms. In turn, this positive feedback reinforces the social media habit and increases dopamine levels in the brain.

This effect on dopamine production is linked to certain personality traits. For example, individuals who are neurotic may engage in excessive social media use. These individuals are more likely to develop addictions to social media than those with neurotic tendencies. They may also have certain brain regions that regulate dopamine levels, such as the amygdala. The amygdala has been linked to addictive behavior in people, but it is unclear if it is the same brain region.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors that influence internet addiction include gender, age, and body self-esteem. Nomophobia and extraversion were related to internet addiction, and personality dimensions were positively related. Gender and neuroticism were associated with risk behaviors. These personality traits were associated with a heightened likelihood of social media addiction, as were other variables, such as physical attractiveness and social attractiveness. Nonetheless, a greater understanding of these factors would be needed to fully understand their relationship to internet addiction.

One of the main psychological factors that contribute to social media addiction is the fact that people engage in self-talk. Social media users typically talk about themselves about thirty to forty percent of the time, and a major component of social networking is showing off one’s life and accomplishments. The positive social feedback encourages the release of dopamine in the brain, which in turn perpetuates the addiction. However, this behavior has negative side effects, including a decreased ability to develop healthy relationships and even a decrease in academic achievement.

Environment

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are proving to be addictive, especially for youth. According to a Wall Street Journal report, 12% of Facebook users engage in compulsive use of these technologies. Excessive social media use can affect sleep, work, parenting, relationships, and even one’s health. Research has shown that excessive social media use leads to self-harm and severe psychological damage. While social media addiction is an increasingly common problem in young people, it can also affect the quality of personal relationships.

Research on the psychological effects of social media usage has linked it to brain circuitry that produces dopamine, a neurotransmitter found to be involved in addictive behaviors. People talk about themselves 30 to 40 percent of the time in the non-virtual world. Social media is all about braggadocio and boasting about one’s accomplishments. In addition, positive social feedback triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, which reinforces the habit.